Spontaneous combustion caused house fire in Blackman Township

BLACKMAN TWP., MI – Spontaneous combustion was the cause of a house fire on Amos Street Thursday, April 4 that sent one to the hospital.

Blackman-Leoni Township Public Safety Director Mike Jester said a rubber tote bag, filled with straw, spontaneously combusted. It was sitting on the home's back porch when it caught on fire. The bag consisted of a polyresin material, Jester said.

“They cut a small hole in the bag for a cat to seek shelter,” Jester said.

The fire started on the back porch and traveled up the back wall of the home, into the eaves and into the attic.

The man who was sleeping in the basement at the time of the fire was taken to the hospital and Jester said he did not sustain life-threating injuries.

The house was not insured and Jester said due to the age and condition of the home, it is most likely not going to be repaired. Firefighters cut holes in the side and top of the house which sustained major smoke damage.

The fire was called in by a neighbor around 12 p.m. Thursday, April 4.